Madden 25: A guide to Player Ratings, Attributes, and Traits

This is a subject I think many people have confusion over because EA Sports doesn't always put it in the game manual what each aspect of a player's ratings does, and even if they did - who reads the game manual? For instance, play recognition might seem like an obvious attribute but what does it really do on the field in the game? This guide will explain all of that so read on! Make sure you check out our Madden 25 offense guides and Madden 25 defense guides as well!
Let's look at the actual player ratings/attributes first.

Overall Rating (OVR) - This is the overall rating of the player. It is based on a formula that weights certain attributes more heavily depending on the position of the player. QB Throw Power and Accuracy is more important for a QB than a DE so the overall rating is unaffected if you raise a DE's Throw Power. In Connected Careers Mode (CCM), this rating will be affected by your team's scheme and which scheme your players prefer to play in. A 3-4 DE will have a lower OVR rating in a 4-3 scheme.

Agility Rating (AGI) - This rating determines how well a player can "cut". More agile players will respond to your moments on the left control stick easier and faster.

Speed Rating (SPD) - This rating determines the maximum a player can run after fully accelerating

Acceleration Rating (ACC) - This rating determines how fast the player will achieve full speed rating

Stamina (STA) - This rating determines how fast a player will get tired and need to be subbed out

Awareness (AWR) - This rating has a huge effect on the players overall rating. There are multiple aspects of the game this rating improves: Blockers will set-up and react to blocking lanes better, wide receivers will look for the ball faster on routes, defenders react to the ball faster in the air for zone and man coverage, defensive lineman will react to the run and slip screens faster.

Jumping (JMP) - Determines how high a player can jump

Injury (INJ) - Determines how often a player will be injured

Toughness (TGH) - Determines how long a players injury will last

QB Specific

Throw Power (THP) - This rating determines the maximum throwing distance of the player along with the speed the ball is thrown (such as a bullet pass).

Throw Accuracy (THA) - A composite rating of the SAC, MAC, DAC. This specific rating is similar to the overall rating for accuracy - it doesn't actually mean anything. EA Sports Game Changer @shopmaster clarified THA rating for us. "THA is only relevant when a game is simmed. If your game is simmed, your QB will take on THA not the SAC, MAC, or DAC." - shopmaster

Short Throw Accuracy (STA) - How accurately the player throws short passes (under 20 yards)

Tackle (TAK) - Determines how successful the player is at making a tackle. Lower tackle ratings means the player is more likely to be stiff armed or trucked over.

Hit Power (POW) - How hard a defender tackles. Higher hit power results in more fumbles and injuries.

Power Moves (PMV) - The players ability for using strength to over power the offensive line. Increases ability to use bull rush move player trait. Determines win/loss/super-loss on power-move attempts, used vs. Pass Block rating

Block Shedding (BSH) - The players ability to get off their blocks. When the offensive engages in a block, how fast the player will be able to get free to pursue the ball carrier. Also determines the success versus run-block double teams and win/loss chance versus cut blocks in combination with physical rating.

Pursuit (PUR) - If a player is unblocked or sheds a block, this rating determines the ability of the defender to catch up to the ball carrier. This rating is basically closing speed and is separate from regular speed rating, but a high speed, high pursuit player can bring the fast blitzes.

Play Recognition (PRC) - The rating determines how well a defender reacts to the run or pass as well as how well they defend specific routes. In addition, a lower PRC player will tend to bite on play action more often. High play recognition defensive lineman (80+) will react to the slip screen more consistently.

Man coverage (MCV) - How well the player will cover the offensive player when man to man coverage is called. Determines chance of fakeout, used vs. Route Run. Determines the time it takes to cover a cut, used vs. Route Run. Determines the reaction time when in man-coverage assignment. Determines tackle skill chance when in man-coverage assignment, used with AWR. Determines when a defender can break out of ‘play ball’ (when the ball is in the air). Determines the knockout chance of a tackle during the catch, used vs. Catch in Traffic. Source: EA Website

Zone coverage (ZCV) - How well the player will cover the field in their respective zone, when zone coverage is called.Determines tackle skill chance when in zone, used AWR. Determines accuracy of leverage on receivers when in zone. Determines the time it takes for the DB to track the ball when in zone. Determines knockout chance on a tackle during a catch, used vs. Catch in Traffic. Source: EA Website

Press (PRS) - How well the defender will "press" the WR at the line of scrimmage when press coverage is called. Higher PRS rating will cause the WR to have a longer delay when starting their routes. Higher RLS players will beat PRS attempts more often.

Blocking Specific

Pass Block (PBK) - How well the blocker holds their blocks when protecting for a pass play.

Run Block (RBK) - How well the blocker engages the defense and holds their blocks when a run play is called.

Impact Block (IBL) - The ability of the blocker to pancake or knock the defender to the ground when making a block in the open field

Note: Run Block Strength and Footwork and Pass Block Strength and Footwork are still in the game but are no longer used. Only rating that matters is PBK, RBK, and IBL.

Kicking Specific

Kick Power (KPW) - The maximum distance a player can kick

Kick Accuracy (KAC) - How easy it is to make a kick (affects the speed of the kick meter)

Return Rating

The higher return rated players have a better ability to break tackles and are more elusive on kick and punt returns.

Phew! If you are still with me, we ain't done yet!

Player Traits

On to the player traits. These traits are specific tendencies that a player might have in a game. Some of them might be good and some bad.

Tuck and Run - How often the QB will run with the ball (when CPU is controlling them)

Throw ball away - Determines if the QB is smart enough to throw the ball away instead of taking a sack

Sense pressure - Determines how fast the QB will tuck and run or throw ball away.

Forces Passes - Determines if the QB will try to throw the ball into tight coverage

Throw tight spiral - Determines if the QB throws the ball in a good spiral form

Fights for extra yards - How well a ball carrier will push through defenders or "fall forward" on a play

Covers the ball - How well a player will brace for hits

Makes sideline catches - Determines if a player will be able to make spectacular catches on the sidelines

Drops open passes - Determines if a player will drop a pass in the open field

Plays ball in the air - Determines how well a player will react to make an interception

Big Hitter - Determines if a player will make a force fumble hit

Utilizes Swim Move - Determines if a player can use a swim move (high FMW players)

Utilizes Spin Move - Determines if a player can use a spin move (high FMW players)

Clutch - This trait will give players a boost to key attributes during the final minutes of the half or game

Consistency - According to EA Sports Game Changer (has direct access to devs so I believe him) @shopmaster (check him out at http://mymaddenpad.com ): " Consistency determines how bad someone can play before cold. Meaning each player has 3 goals and depending on your consistency will determine if you can miss those goals and not be considered cold."

High Motor - The defensive lineman will push harder to create pressure more consistently.

Special Player Ratings for Connected Franchise Mode (CFM)

There are six ratings that are special for the CFM. They do not have any affect on the performance of your players but can affect the profitability and fan support of your team. Here is the description of each rating, taken directly from the Madden NFL 25 manual.

Personality Rating - Helps determine how marketable the player is. The more marketable the player, the better chance he’ll have of becoming a top-10 selling jersey in the NFL, which of course means more money for the owner.

Physical Rating - Calculated from a player’s physical ratings, player type and position. For example, a WR’s physical rating would weigh heavier on speed, agility, jumping, and catching, whereas an offensive lineman is weighed on run, pass, and impact blocking

Intangible Rating - Calculated off of a player’s intangible ratings. Player type and position are also taken into consideration. For example, a QB’s intangible rating would be weighed heavier on short, medium, and deep accuracy while a defensive end is weighed on block shed-ding, power, and finesse moves.

Size Rating - Calculated from the height and weight of a player while also factoring in the position and player type of that individual. For example, a Power RB who is 6’0” and 247lbs would have a 99 size rating. But if he were a Speed HB, his size grade would be considerably lower

Production Rating - Calculated from the player’s season and career stats, position and age. It is important to understand that a rookie will enter with a production rating of zero. That will increase as he begins to produce on the field.

Durability Rating - Calculated from a player’s durability rating. Injury, stamina, and toughness are all factored in when determining the durability rating. The age and position of a player are taken into consideration as well.

Some have also asked about the "Change Predictability" Trait. I tried to find some answers on this and after searching the best I could find was a tweet from CFM designer Josh Looman. The question was originally asked by @OSUFL. It appears predictability trait helps determine if a player will retire or re-sign with their team. It has nothing to do with their in-game performance.

@OSUFL Predictability trait has an impact on whether players re-sign with their teams and how likely they are to retire.

Two points I need clarification on. First, with traits like Force Pass, Sense Pressure, and Throw Ball Away, are they only relevant when the CPU is controlling the QB?

Yeah that's my thought on it. If you are controlling the QB, those traits wouldn't really have an effect on your gameplay. You choose when to throw the ball, move outside the pocket, and use the throw away button. Those traits would only be helpful in a SIM or if it is the CPU controlled team.